Solid tire on Mi Electric Scooter
Changing to solid tire is a good option if you have issues with flat tire, but it can also have impact on ride quality
Flat tires is probably the main reason to change to solid tires and is why I use solid tired on both my eScooters
After getting flats multiple times and becoming worried of driving, as I never knew if I'd make it home again. I decided to move to solid tires and mostly don't regret that decision
From using eScooters for many years, I've only had issues with flat tires on the rear wheel and therefor only installed solid tire on the rear wheel. I still use the original Mi Electric Scooter tire on the front wheel
Pros of solid tire
Main benefit of installing a solid tire, is no more flats and need to fill air in the tire
Cons of solid tire
Your ride can be more bumpy, especially if not on smooth pavement and this again can cause more strain on your bike, so it deteriorates faster
How much you'll feel this, depends on what roads you're driving on and the weight you put on your bike. I'm heavier than the max limit and often carry heavy stuff (such as my groceries), so I feel the bumps very well. If you're lighter, you won't notice them as much
Installation of solid tire
Installation of solid tire onto the wheel hub can be a real nightmare. I've tried and failed to installing it and ended up going to a tire shop to have them install it. They also struggled and I'm not sure if I'm welcomed there anymore, at least to install any more solid tires
For my second eScooter, I decided to order a solid tire pre-installed on a wheel hub and here you just make sure it's design for your model. Mi Scooters might look the same, but they've different dimensions between models when it comes to the wheel hub. Tires themselves are the same size (as of writing at least)
We've these guides on how to replace rear wheel Mi Electric Scooter (M365) and Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2
Who should install a solid tire?
I do not recommend everyone to install a solid tire. If you don't have a problem with getting flats today, then I don't see any reason for you to change to a solid tire
Just ensure you have correct air pressure for your area and weight, then you shouldn't have a too big issue with flats
If you do have an issue with flats, as I have. Then I would recommend considering solid tires. The ride will be bumpier, on uneven roads, but you also don't need to worry about flats. There's also an option to install suspension on the tire (never tried myself) and from my research on people who use it, this should give a lot smoother ride
Tags: #Xiaomi #MiElectricScooter #M365 #solidtire
